Semitrailer



Lgl

June 29 1926.A l

L. R. CULVER SEMITRAILER Filed April 1'7, 1924 9 Sheets-Sheet l me `29 192e.

L. R. CULVER SEMITRAILER Filed April 17, 1924 u s sheets-sheet 2 L. R. CULVER SEMITRAILER File April 17V. 1924 9 sheetsheet 5 -I June 29 1926.

R. cuLvER SEHITRAILER W42 wm June 29 1926. L59015 L. R. CULVER SEMITRAILER F'iled'ApIl 17. 1924 9 Sheets-.Sheet 5 June 29 1926..

L. R. CULVER SEMITRAILER Filed April 17. 1924 qusa sheets-sheet e L.. R. CULVER June 29 192% SEMITRAILE'R Filed April 17 `9 sheets-sheet v MN NWN@ NNN June 29 1926.

une 29 1926.

L. R. EULA/ER sEmTRALER Filed April 17 adjacent parts on the relative positions when starting to lower he trailer to couple the trailer to the tractor.

Fig. l() is a continuation of Fig. 9 and showinglhe operation ot the seconder)v wheels for supportingY the forward end of the semitruiler while the tractor' drives avra Y.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary cross sectional detail ot the slide which controls the secondary wheels and taken on a line 11.-11 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 1.2 is a view analogous to Fig. 9 and showing the operating lever pulled baclc trardly and showing the result of this operation. the principal result being shown 1n Idotted lines in Fig. 10

- Fig. 13 is a side elevation analogous to Fig. 1 and showing the trailer having its forward end elevated and resting upon the secondary wheels so that the tractor may loe driven away.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation .of the connecting mechanism and same plane as Figs.

1 and 13 and dn a plane parallel with Figs.

v4., 9 and 12. and is seen lookin;1r in the direc tion indicated bv the arrow '14 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 15 is a ragmentary tion cna plane parallel with Fig. 14 and showing the connector' parts in the same positions as in 22. Blocks 23 are lplaced upon the axle 7 `the'wheels 5 and 6 are steerable.

' The struts 17 and Fig. 13 and showing the operation following the operation in Fig. 9; that is, with the jack reversed ready for the tractor to be driven away.

The details of the semi-trailer are as follows: e

The automobile trainY consists of a tractor 1 and a semitrailer 2. Thetractorv 1 carries all of the ower mechanism and is mounted on our w eels 3 and is not adapted to carry any other load than the forward end ot the trailer 2. The trailer 2 is mounted on two traction wheels 4 and has two secondary Wheels 5 and 6. Y

The axle 7 has a solid central portion with 'llorks 8 and 8 at its ends and the wheels 5 and 6 are mounted upon stub axles 10 and 11 extending between forks 8 and 9 and secured by vertical pivots 12 and 13, so that Arms extend forwardly from the stub axles und 11 and are connected by a link 14. A steersv ing lever is pivotally connected to the link 14'and to the axle 7 and a handle 16 forms an extension on the lever 15 to be manually operated when it is desired to more the trailer without connection to the tractor.

18 are welded to plates 19. and 2() having hinged members 21. and

and the plates 19 and 2O tit upon the blocks and clamping bolts 24 are inserted down ajardly throughl the plates sectional eleva- P .and 58 and t e plates are 19 and 2O past.

neocons the axle 7 and through the flanges orI aars 25 extending from the axle, so s to ri `dly clamp the lower ends of the struts 1 and 18 to the axle.

In making `an adjustment t'o fit trailers of different heights the blocks 23 and the bolts 24 may be increased or rlhe upper ends of the struts 17 and 18 are welded to a pipe) 26 and` the ends o the pipe extend through bearing plates 27 secured to the side bars 28 and 29 of the trailer. A brace rod 30 is welded to the struts 17 and 18 near their upper ends parallel with the pipe 2G and extends beyond the struts to form pintles upon which the bearings 31 and 32 are mounted; Operating bars 33 and 34 are 4slidingly mounted through bearings 35 and 36 formed integral with and at right angles to the bearings 31 and 32. Springs 37 and 38 are mounted upon the rods 33 and 34 against the bearings e nd'36 and spring seats and nuts 39 and 4U are screwed upon the rods 33 and 34 against the springs 37 and 38. Braces 41 and 42 are pivotally connected to the hinge members 21 and 22 and extend backwardly and upwardly. Retractile coil diminished.

springs 43 and 44 are connected to the hinge ins 45 and 46 which connect the braces 41 and 42 to the hinge members 21 and 22.

A cross bar 47 is inserted between the side bars 28 and 29 some distance in front of the rear axle of the trailer and an intermediate bar 48 extends from the cross bar 4T to the end bar 49. This intermediate bar 48 is an I-beam as shown in. Fig. 11 and has lower langes() and 51 and a slide 52 is mounted upon these flanges and consists ot side plates 53 and 54. Round bars 55 and 56 are turned down at, their ends to form shoulders 57 and 58 and the pintles 59 and 60 are inserted through the plates 53Y and 54 until the lates engage the shoulders 57 properly spaced apart hy these shoulders to fit slidablv against the edges of the flanges 50 and 51. The upper ends of the braces 41 and 42 lit upon the pintles 59 and 60 against the plates 53 and54 and nuts 61 and 62 are screwed upon the pintlcs against the braces so as to pirotally connect the braces to the slide. Pintles (33 :mil 64 are fixed through the plates 53 and 54 and project inwardly and have rollers (i5 and 66 running upon the flanges 50 and 51',so as to securely support the slide 52 audallow it to travel upon the intermediate har 48- from the cross har 47 backwardly, `The springs 43 and 44'are con-- nected to brackets 67 forming a-rigid part of the trailer frame, the tension 0i' the springs heing exerted to pull the-secondary wheels 5 and 6 haclrwardly and upwardly as shown inv Fig. 1, so that the forward end of the trailer will rest upon operation thebraces 41 and 42 move theslde Htl 52 bsckwardly. hearing bracket 0S is secured. to the iront fare ot the cross ha r 1T and e hook 00 is pivotall)A connected to the bracket 68 so that when the slide 52 moves forwardly the hook 00 will engage under the forward one oi' the hars 50 und securely hold the slide from movingr haekwardly and thereby holding the struts 1i' and 18 up right, so that the trailer may rest upon the secondary wheels and 0. 'lhe hook 09 has on inclined face 70 leading;r lo the hook slot. A rod 71 is connected to the hook o0 und extends forwardly and a spring;r 72 is connected to e clip T3 mounted upon the rod T1 und to the hearing bracket 08. the tension ot the spring being exerted to throw the hook 69 beekwurdly into operative position und the rod 71 being operated to pull the hook forwardly und allow-the slide 52 to operate. `iralte constructions 321 and T eontrolliiigf the trailer wheels 4 have rods 70 end 7T connected to u lever IS end a rod is Conneeted to the center of the lever 'T8 und extends forwardly.

The cross lair i8 is mounted in slideways formed et the lower .faces of the side hars 28 and 20 and a retroetile coil spring 81 connects the central portion ot' the cross bur '1B to the cross bar 47. An elastic memher 32 is incorporated into the rod 79 and the details o this member are best shown iin Fig. 3.A The rody 7 9 is cut in two and crore heed 8 is rigidly secured to one of the moetL ing ends of the rod and a. similar cross head 8l is secured to the other one oi the meeting ends some distance from the end. A tubular guide is rigidwith the cross head 83 and the rod extends through vthe cross heed 81 .into the guide 85. Retraetile coil springs Salland 87 connect the ends ot the cross heads 83 end 84, so that when extra strain is placed upon the rod79 the springs 80 and d? will yield. The final end oit the rod 70 is attached to a fork 88. A heavy platform 89 is secured against. the lower 'tace of the side bars 28 and 29 .und extends trom the extreme forward end haekwardly a considerable distance. A hub 90 extends downwardly from the center 0l' the platform 8f) und o turntable 91 is mounted upon the huh egeinst the lower tace of the platform and in place by a. nut 02 screwed upon the lower end of the hub 90. Guideways- 02) and let (See Fig'. each Consists ot an inner heir 05 .end en outer bar 90 bent U-shaped end having out-turnedends secured to the platform hy bolts 97 and a lever 08 is mounted in the guideways 93 and 94. The forli; 08 is connected to one end oi the lever fr link 9S is connected to the other end of the .lever 98 and to e. lever 100 (See Fig. l A pivot 101 connects the lever 100 to an envie iron 102 secured :it its ends to the tops of? the side leurs 28 end 29. A loose pin 10i-l is inserted downwardly through the angle iron 10:2 a nd through the opposite end of the lever trom the link 99, so that when'the pin 103 is in place e pivot 104 oonnertingthe lever 08 to the link 99 is praelirally rigidly mounted and heroines the tul- Crum tor the lever 93. and so that when the pin 103 is removed `the lever 0H has no fixed `lulrrum as the link 09 may freely move with the lever 100 turning on the pivot 101.

Bearing;f posts 105 yand 100 are rigidly secured againsttho outer tures of the side hars 28 and'29 and extend upwardly and a shaft 107 is rotatably mounted in the upper ends of these posts. Crank arms 108 and 100 are fixed upon the shnit 10T and extend downwardly. The rods 33 and l are eonnected to the ends ot' the Crank arms 108 and 100. A stop pin 110 is fixed in the lever 08 near its neuter and a am pin 111 is ixed in the shaft 107 and has a, cam head 112 to engage the pin 110. so that as the shaft 101 is rotated in the direction of the. arrow 113 the cam head 112 will engage the pin 110 and move the lever 08 to pull on the. rod 70 to operate the brakes T1 and T5 upon the trailer.

A hearing hlork 11-'1L is bolted to the platform 80 and a bell Crank lever 115 is pivotally mounted in the bearing,- block 114, one arm of the lever being 'vertical and adapted to engage the lever 9S and the other arm et the lever lie-ing horizontal. A hearing block 110 is holted to the plat-form 89 vand exirries a hell crank lever comprising an arm 117 extending horizontally and forwardly and an arm 11S extending' huekwardly and downwardly. The rod 71 is connected to the arm 11S. A rinov 110 is connected to *sliding pins 120 and 121, said pins extending upwardly through the hub 90, the pin 120 engaging the horizontal arm of the hell crank lever and thel pin 121 engaging the horizontal u rm 117 to operate the roo 71. A tube 122 extends upwardly from the platform S0, and a ventral opening 123 extends through the tuhe and platform and huh, there beingy diametrieally opposed slots 124. extending from near the upper end of the tube to near the platform. A. king bolt 125 is slidingrly mounted in the opening 123 und has arms v126 and 127 extending through the slots 12-1 and has o` llange or head upon its lower end. Arms 129 and 130 are xed upon the shaft 107' and extend under the arms 126 und 127, so that when the king holt moves downwardly as in Fig. 0 it will rotate the shaft 107 and causo the com head 112 to engage the pin 110 to operate the lever 98 to operate the rod 7 9 to operate the brakes upon the trailer and if the pin 103 is rpmoved the brakes may be released manuzilrlI as hereafter explained.

The side hairs 131 und 132 ot the tractor are channel hers. Blocks 133 and 131 are niounted upon the side hars und o strong vso ne medew platform 155 is moimted upon the blocks, said platform extending :from near the rear end of the tractor to a considerable distance forwardly. Attachino' plates 136 and 137 .are mounted upon t e platform 135 and have parallel slots througha which bolts extend, said bolts being tapped into the platform or inserted through the platform with nuts upon the lower end, so that the plates 136 and 137 may slide to and from each other. The inner ends of the plates have portions 139 and 140 extending upwardly at right angles and jaws 141 and 142 extending inwardly. The king bolt goes down and rests upon the platform when the jaws 141 and 142 are open and when the jaws are closed they engage above the flan e 128. so that when the forward end of tigre trailer is elevated the king bolt 125 is yheld down as in Fig. 9. Angle irons are secured to the platform135 to form guides 143 and 144, said guides being V-sbaped in plan and extending into the space between the vertical portions 139 and 140 of the jaws as shown in Fig. 8 and said guides being wide apart at the extreme rear end of the platform 135. so as to guide the king bolt into position. to be'engaged bythe 'j'.rwswhen connecting the tractor to a trailer. Bell crank levers 145 and 146 are pivoted to the platform 135 by bolts 147 and 148 and corresponding ends of the levers are offset upwardly and connected to the clutches by bolts 149 and 150.' The opposite ends of the levers overlap and are connected by pin 151, there being sutlicient looseness or lost motion to allow the levers to swing to the desired extent. Arod 152 is connected to one end of one of the levers 145 and 146 by pivot 153 and a retractile coil spring -154 connects the lever to a pin 155 fixed in the platform 135. the tension of the spring being exerted to hold the clutchcs'closed and the operation of the rod 152 in the direction indicated by the arrow servingT to open the clutches and release the king bolt. i

A rock shaft 156 is mounted crosswise of the tractor upon the bars 131 and 132. A crank arm 157 extends upwardly from the shaft 156 and abolt 158 extends 'through the crank arm and through a slot 159 in the rod 152. An arin160 extends downwardly upon the shaft 156 and a link 161 connects the arm 160 to the lower end of the operating.;r lever 162, said operating lever having a pawln 163 engaging a quadrant 164. An arm 165 extends from the shaft'156-and has a pin 166 operating in a. slot 167 in a'rod 168. A' retractile coil spring 169 connects the rod 168 to a pin170 fixed upon the tractor-frame, the tension of the spring being exerted to pull the rod forwardly. vA rock shaft 171`is1nonntedin brackets 172 and 173 extending downwardly from the platform-135 and an arm 172 extends downwardly from the shaft 171-ejnd is connected to the rear end of the rod 168. An arm 17 3a extends from the shaft 156 and has a pin 174 operating in aslot 175 in a link 176.

.Angle irons 177 and 178 are secured to the platform 135 and have notches 179 and 180 intheir upstanding flanges, said notches being in transverse alignment, Bearing blocks 181 and 182 are secured to the outer faces of the side bars 131 and 132 and extend upwardly and a shaft 183 is mounted in the upper ends of these bearing blocks. Jack levers 184 and 185 have hanging bearings 186.and 187 mounted upon the shaft 183. The jack levers 184 and 185 are bent upwardly both ways from the bearings 186 and 187 as shown in Fig. 12. The forward ends of the levers 184 and 185 are rigidly connected by a channel bar 188. Plates 189 and 190 form extensions backwardly from the jack levers 184 and 185 and have notches 191 and 192 in their upper edges in transverse alignment with the notches 179 and 180. Hooks 193 and 194 are fixed upon the ends of the rock shaft 171 and extend upwardly through the platform substantially in line with the notches 179 and 180. Pairs of hangers 195 and 196 extend downwardly from the lturntable 91 and carry cross bars 197 and 198. so that when the parts are in proper positions the cross bars 197 and 198 will fit in the notches 179 and 180 and will be held in place by the hooks 193 and 194 and will lit in the notches 191 and 192 of the jack levers, so that when the hooks'193 and-194 are unhooked and the jack is operated the jack ex-A tensions 189 and 190 will engage the bars 197 and 198 and lift the forward end of the trailer as shown in Fig.l 5.

A shaft 199 is mounted in the jack levers 184 and 185 substantially half 'way betweenv the shaft 183 and the. notches 191 and 192. Mating levers 200 and 201 are connected to the shaft 199 by bearings 202 and are rigidly secured together and spaced apart by a spacing sleeve and rivet. 203 and the rear ends of the bals are curved outwardly to receive the king bolt 125 and engage the ring 119. A pin 204 connectsthe forward ends of the levers 200 and?. 01 to the link 175.

A bearing?" lock 205 is attached to the channel bar '1.88. A piston rod 206 is -connected to the bearing block 205 by a pin 207. A piston cylinder 208 is connected to an overhead bar 209 by apivot 210. A hose 211 is connected to the upper end of the piston cylinder 208 and a similar hose 212 is connected to the lower end. The piston upon the piston rod 206 operates in the cylinder 208 and the-direction of movement depends upon which hose 211 or 212 is carrying the hydraulic pressure. llllhen the pressure 1s flowing through the hose 211 the piston will go `down and rock the jack leve-rs 184 and 185 to raise the forward end of the semitrail Laconia er and disconnect the trailer from thetrac tor and when the pressure is going through the hose 212 and exhausting through the hose 211'tlie jack will be rocked the other way to lower the trailerl and make the'connection. The hydraulic pressure through the hose 211 and the hose 212 may come from any suitable well known ,apparatus as is usually used on a dump truck. A

Thus l have produced means for connecting tractors to semitrailers and accessories and serving mechanisms which are connected, operated and disconnected by the operation of connecting a trailer to a tractor.

AL platform 135 upon the tractor, the angle irons 177 and 178 having notches 179 and 180 and the hooks 193 and 194 upon the shaft 171 and cooperating parts serve as tractor connecter assemblies and the hangers 195 and 196 carrying the bars 197 and 198 to engage thetractor connecter assemblies and carried by the turntable 91 or the semitrailer connecter elements, said elements being adapted to go together and apart by vertical movement of the fiont end of the trailer.

The king bolt 125 and the guideway formed by the bars 143 and 111/1 andthe clutches 14:1 and 142 serve as assemblies for guiding and centering the connecter elements.

The king bolt 125, the clutches 14:1 and 142' erated by the power mechanism of the tractor for raising and lowering the forward end of the trailer to connect or disconnect the tractor and tra-iler and the serving elements,

ln Fig. 1 I have shown the semitrailer 2 connected to the tractor 1 in' accordance with the principles of my invention. The secondary wheels 5 and (i are withdrawn and the train is ready to be operated. One of the principal uses that l have in view for this seinitrailer is to have a plurality ot semitrailers tor a single tractor, go to a loading station with a tractor and trailer, load the trailer7 haul the trailer to the unloading station, uncouple the tractor and leave the "f trailer to be unloaded., take an empty trailer baul. to the loading station, have the second trailer loaded, haul it t0 the unloading station, uncouple the tractor from the second trailer and leave it to be unloaded, and couple the tractor to the'iirst trailer, so that the operator et the tractor may be kept reasu onably busy and not have to wait for the loading and unloading operations.

Tif'hen he train shown in Fig. l reaches the loading station and the trailer has been properly loaded the operator of the tractor will push the lever 162 :forwardly as shown in Fig. 9 thereby rocking the shaft 156 and moving the rod 168 backwardly to operate the hooks 193 and 194 to release the bars 197 and 198 so that the connecter elements may be separated. Then the operator'will ma nipulate the lever 213 to control the pump4 214 and pump the liquid through the hose 211 to the top of the piston in the cylinder 208 thereby pushing downwardly upon the piston and rocking the jack to raise the forward end of the trailer as shown in Figs. 9 and 12 thereby disengaging the trailer connecter elements from the tractor connecter elements and holding the king bolt 125 down to operate the arms 129 and 130 thereby moving the lever 98 and pulling on the rod 79 to set the brakes 74- and 75 upon the trailer. This operation of the shaft 107 also operates the arms 108 and 109 to pull the rods 33 and 34: to move the secondary wheels 5 and 6 downwardl and forwardly as shown in Fig. 10. his operation swings the struts 17 and 18 forwardly to a point beyond the vertical planev of their ivots and pulls the slide 52 forwardly until the bar 56 passes the hook 69 thereby locking the braces 41 and 42 to hold the secondary wheels rigidly in position to support the forward end of the trailer. Then the operator will manipulate the' hand lever 213 to reverse the jack thereby lowering the sec ondary wheels 5 and 6 to the ground and the trailer is set with the brakes tight and the forward end of the trailer resting upon the secondary Wheels 5 and 6. t

Continued o eration of the hydraulic systcm will still iilrther reverse the jack until the jaclr'returns to .its normal position and the tractor may be driven away.

At this time the trailer stands in the position shown in Fig. 13 with the secondary wheels upon the ground and supportin the trailer and the king bolt 125 is held own by the jaws 141 and 14:2 and when the tractor drives away the king bolt will pass 'backwardly from between the jaws 1111 and 142 and remain in this depressed position thereby holding the brakes set upon the trailer. While the trailer is standing'elone if it is desired to move the trailer the brakes may be unset by removing the pin 103 and the trailer may be guided by manually manipulating the arm 16. i

When the tractor returns and is to be connected to the trailer the turntable 91 is man# including the bars 197 and 198 into en anule corresponding to the angle at which t e' es x ` ually rotated to bring the connecter elemente tractor will back under the trailer and then.

the tractor is manipulated so that the vg bolt will pass between the 143 and 144 to its position betwu aiuti-fun der the clutches .Rilland 142.

When the parts are all in proper vertical arms the handle 213 to move upwardly and raise the forward end of the trailer until the secondary wheels 5 and G are clear of the ground, then the hand lever 1612 is pulled backwardly thus raising the ring 119 and causing the bell crank lever 115 to be operated by the pin 120 to engage the lever 98 and hold'the brakes set upon the trailer and at the same time the pin 121 will engage the `hell crank arm 117 and pull the rods T1 to pull the hook 69 out of engagement with the oar 56`and allow the springs 43 and 44 to pull the secondary wheels 5 and 6 back- Ward?7 to clear the ground as shown in dotte l 162 backwardly operates the rod 152 to open the Clutches 141 and 142 and release the king 43 and 44 transmitted through the struts 17 and 18* and the rods 33 and 34 rotates the shaft 107 to move the arms 12S) and 130 upwardly against the arms 126 and 12T thus disconnecting the king bolt 125 t rom the clutches 141 and 142 but at this time the trailer and tractor are supposed to be immovable relative to each other or, in other words, standing still and while these operations are gonr on the crank 115 holde the lever 98 to hold the brakes set on the trailer and continued operation of the jack will lower the trailer until the connecters meet and interlock and until the king bolt 125 returns to its normal position in the clutches 141 and 142.

During vthe operation of connecting and disconnecting the trailer from the tractor there is more or less lost motion, the prncipal features of which are as follows:

TWhen the jack is operated to raise the forward end of the trailer` it must go high enough to more than allow the wheels and 6 to clear the ground in swinging iorward, then it must back up enough to allow the load of the trailer to rest upon the wheels 5 and 6 on the ground. During .this ope eration the kin bolt 125 is held by the clutches 141 an 142 and is drawn downwardly more than enough, then when the jack is reversed to leave the trailer standing the load of the front end of the trailer no longer rests upon the tractor and the' sprin of the tractorvwili expand and raise the p atform 135`1and this action raises the king bolt while the shaft 108 is set and the 129 and 130 cannot follow up.` In order to support the' kin bolt at this time a friction device 215 (see ig. 12) is provided the friction being strong enough to hold the king holt from moving Without being for" ed to move. f

Continued operation of the jack will lower the front endv of the trailer to bring the connectors of the trailer into operating ines in Fig. 1t). Pulling the lever bolt 125 and the tensions of the springs tween the tractor and yiange 128, the ring llt) will he released, the

bell crank lever ll will release the lever 98 thereby releasing thev brakes on the trailer and -the connection is made.

Various changea` may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

l claim:

1. A semi-trailer comprising in combination a tractor `having a platform with guides positioned thereon, a trailer having a king bolt loosely depending therefrom, the end of the king bolt being adapted to be guided on thel platform betwreu the guide ways to a central position, a turntable rotatably mounted on the trailer encircling the king bolt and interengaging locking means connecting the turntable and the platform forming a traction connection bethc trailer.

2. A semi-trailer as claimed in claim 1, having in addition jack levers pivotally mounted on the tractor having notches engaging cross bars depending from the turntable and means, to operate said jack levers to elevate the cross bars and hence the front end of the trailer.

3. A semiftrailer comprising in combination a tractor havingr a platform at its rear end, flared guides` tapering from the rear end of the platform to a central position, a trailer having a platform at its forward end, a tube secured thereto to occupy a aub` stantially vertical position, a king bolt slid:` g

c comprises )ack levers pivotally mounted on ,the tractor, hooks pivotally mounted` on the trailer adapted to engage the cross bars and hold them in locked position, and means to manually nnlatch said hooks anda power device manually controlled to operate the said jacks levers to elevate the trailer after unlatching of the cross bars.

A Semi-trailer comprising in combination a tractor having a platform at its rear end, a trailer having aking holt loosely mounted in its forward and to have suhlstan'tlally a vertical sliding movement, the

' forward end ot the trailer to elevate lower end of the king slide on `plvotally sconne'cting l and means to Leaders bolt being adapted to the plattorn'i of the tractor, guides on said plattormfto guide the. king boltto a central position,jack bars pivotall)v mounted on the tractor adapted to operatively engage the front end of the trailer to elevate the same, means mounted on the trailer engaging the jack bars forming a traction connection, brakes mounted on the trailer, means operated by the slidingY movement ofthe king bolt to set the brakes and means to restrain the king;r bolt from sliding upwardly on the elevation ofthe trailer.

6. The combination with a tractor of a semitrailer having secondary Wheels for supporting its Jront end when disconnected and havinfbr brakes, connecter elements upon the tractor, connecter elements upon the trailer, a hand lever upon the tractor, a jack upon the tractor, a power mechanism. upon the tractor tor operating the jack, means forconuecting the trailer to thev tractor by vertical movement of the trailer, and means extending through the connecter elements for operating the brakes and secondary wheels ot the trailer Jfrom the hand lever.

7. A Semi-trailer comprising in combination a tractor, a trailer having aking bolt slidably mounted therein, a pair of traction wieels on said trailer, brakes for said wheels, means on the tractor to engage the same, means mounted on the tractor to restrain the king bolt from upward movement with the trailer, and means operated by the king bolt to set the brakes on-the traction wheels of the trailer.

8. A semi-trailer as claimed in claim in which the means to restrain the kingr bolt comprises a pair ot plates slidably mounted on the tractor and manual means to operate said plates to hold the king bolt. in its lowermost position and to release said king bolt for separation of the tractor and the trailer.

9. A semi-trailer as claimed in lclaim 7, having in addition a ring slidably mounted on the king bolt, an operative connection between said rin and the brakes on ,the

Atrailer and manna ly operated means on the tractor to slide the said ring to operate the brakes on the trailer when in normal driving relation to the tractor.

l0. A semi-trailer comprising in combinau tion a tractor, a trailer having secondary Wheels to support the forward end ofthe trailer when in standingk position, struts the said secondary wheelsto the trailer, means normally retracting said wheels upwardl means mounted on the tractor-to elevate t e forward end of the trailer, rods connected to the said struts operate said rods in the elevation of the trailerwto draw the struts forxWardly..

l1. A semi-trailer as claimed in claim 10, having in addition a pair of braces operatively connectcd at their lower ends to the secondary Wheels.` a slide mounted on the trailer and connected to the upper endet the struts, a latch hook, a rod connected thereto and means to operate said rod on the elevation ot the tractor to engage the' hooks and the said slide to hold the braces lin rigid position when the secondary Wheels claim l0,

pair et braces opera.

semi-trailer to a tractor so that the forward vend ot the trailer rests upon the rear end of the tractor,

a jack mounted upon'tlie tractor and o )erated by thel power plant ot the tractor 'or raising,r and lowering the forward end oit the trailer, interlocking connccter elements upon the tractor and trailer to be connected or disconnected by operating the CaCl/t to raise or lower the `forward end of he trailer, and service elements upon the tractor and trailer for controlling the trailer and conpected and disconnected by connecting and disconnecting thc trailer.

A semi-trailer comprising in combinationl a tractor, a trailer having a platform at its forward cnd`. a tube connected to said platform anda turntable swivelly mounted on the lower end of said tube and bearing against the under surface of the platform et' the trailer, a king bolt slidably mounted in the tube, a pair ot jack bars pivotally mounted on the trailer, said jack bars having notches at their rearward ends, a hylili lll)

draulic cylinder operatively connected to the forward ends of the jack bars, means controlling the operation of said pylinder, an operatlve connection between the. rear ends of the 'ack bars and the turntable adapted to eevate and lower the trailer forming a traction conneetionxbetvveen the tractor and the trailer, and mea-ns mounted on the'tractor to .slide the king bolt in the said tube on the raising and lowering of the trailer. y

'15. ln an apparatus for connecting;r a tractor and trailer so that the forward end of the trailer will rest upon the rear end et the tractor, struts pivotally connected to the forward. end ot the trailer frame, secondary Wheels connected to the lower ends of the struts, a slide upon the trailer trarne, braces connectingi the slide to the .secondary wheel mechanism, springs conmeeting the trailer frame to the secondary 'vvfneelmechanisild,y e. hook' for holding the slide, means connected to`tlie struts and operated from the tractor for swinging the struts, vforwardly to bring the secondary wheeisintoposition-to support the forward endothe trailerand lock the braces, and

means operated :rom the tractor for oper` ating the hook to release the slide to allow the springs" to withdraw the 'secondary wheels J.trom their supporting positions.

16. in en apparatus Vfor` connecting a i trailer to' e tractor so that the forward end of the trailer will be carried by the rear end 'of the tractor, a king bolt mounted upon the trailer to Slide vertically, a guideway tion a tractor, a trailer having a king bolt slidably mounted therein, lmeans on the tractor to engugelthe lower end of said kin bolt and -guide said king bolt into a centrali position, a jack device mounted on the tractor adapted to engage the forward end of the trailer to raise and lower-same and tunning part of the traction connection between the tractor and the trailer, a ring slidably mounted on the king bolt and means operated by said ring to manually control the brakes on the trailer from the tractor when the tractor and the trailer ere in normal driving relation.

' i8. A semi-trailer a claimed in claim 17, hsvingdn addition a operating connection between the king bolt and the brakes of the trailer adepted to set said brakes when the trailer is e voted.V

19. A semi-trailer..comprising in combination a tractor, a trailer, a pair of secondary wheels carried' by the trailer, Said wheels being operatively connected to a pair l oi struts swivellyconnected tothe trailer 'and to e pair of braces slidingl'y connected VPailer, a rock shaft mounted on the i.. rod connected, between the .rock smit and the struts adapted to draw the ts forwardly and the secondary wheels engagement with the ground, a jack lil bolt. slidably mounted in. the trailer in a sublly vertical direction, an operative en between the gack bolt and the alt, and means on the "tractor to elef rare trailer and to slide the king boli'J downwardly thereby operating Jthe roel:

incitera shaft and causing the lowering oi the wheels. e 20. A semi-trailer as claimed in claim '19, having in addition a latch. means on the trailer to lock the braces iu their forward position, and a manually operated device on the tractor having a sliding connection on the king bolt to the trailer adapted to unlatch' the said latching means, and iueaxis to retract the secondary wheels.

21.y A semi-trailer as claimed in claim 19, having .in addition means operated by the rock sha-ft to set the brakes onA the trailer in the elevation of the trailer. 22. A semi-trailer comprising in combinan tion a tractor, a trailer, traction wheels on the trailer, brakes operated on said wheels, a slidably mounted king bolt on the trailer and an operative connection between the king bolt und the brakes adapted to set the brakes on the elevation of the trailer, and means mounted on the tractor to elevate the trailer, and means on the tractor to restrain the king bblt during the elevation of the trailer causing setting. of the brakes.

23. A semi-trailer as claimed in claim 22, having in addition a manuall operated de vice mounted on the tractor having a sliding connection withtheking bolt from the t'ractoxj'i'gto the trailer, and means on the trailerl having operative connection to said slidinmmeans and to the brake mechanism, whereby the manually operated device on the tractor may be operated to cause the' engagement of the brakesl and hold said brakes set during the lowering of the trailer in regard to the tractor.

24. A semi-trailer comprising incombina vtion a tractor, a trailer, a slidably mounted king bolt on the trailer, means mounted on the tractor to elevate the trailer, brakes on the trailer, a hand lever mounted on the tractor, asliding element mounted on the king bolt, an operative connection between said element and the hand lever on the tractor whereby thehgnd lever may-actuate the brlakes on the trailer in normal'driving operations.

25.,I A semi-trailer comprising in combination n tractor, a trailer, a slidably mounted king lbolt on` the trailer, means mounted on thetrbcto'A to elevate the trailer, means on the tractor to restrain the king bolt during` the elevation of the tractori secondary wheels adapted to hold the trai er elevated, said king bolt bein mounted to have sliding movement -on t e'u ward reaction4 of the tractor when releae of the weight of the trailer', and mean to hold said king bolt in such elevated position.

ln testimony whereof 'I have signed my name to this specification.

LAGAR REAL CULVER and the brakes on the trailer 

